Portland's 'Little Orchestra' Pink Martini Returns to Perform with the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall

On March 21 at 7:30 PM, world-famous musical group Pink Martini joins the Utah Symphony for a blend of music that spans multiple languages and genres. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased at www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

The musicians of Pink Martini are well-known for their culturally eclectic repertoire. The ensemble draws inspiration from music from all over the world and fuses the genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop. Their vocalists are multilingual and sing in different languages including English, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, and French. For most, it is easy to relate to their music, energy, and appeal, and The New York Times said, "The sparkle of fantasy, even more than musicianship or internationalism, just might be the secret to Pink Martini's success."

Crossing genres and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, Thomas Lauderdale began piano lessons at age six in rural Indiana before moving to Portland, Oregon in 1982 and studying under Sylvia Killman. At the age of 14 he made his first appearance with the Oregon Symphony. After being active in politics since high school and serving under mayors, governors, and commissioners he attended Harvard, graduating with honors in History in Literature in 1992. In 1994 he founded Portland's "little orchestra" to provide more beautiful inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers, for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education, and parks. One year later Mr. Lauderdale called Harvard classmate China Forbes, asking her to join his new music group, and they immediately began to write songs together. With their first song "Sympathique" becoming an overnight success their presence was immediately solidified in France when they were nominated for "Song of the Year." Since then, Pink Martini's dozen musicians have played on some of the world's most well-known stages including Royal Albert Hall in London, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Governor's Ball at the 80th Academy Awards confirming that their "little orchestra" has a giant presence.

Vocalist China Forbes was born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Where she graduated cum laude from Harvard and was awarded the Jonathan Levy Prize for acting. Before joining Pink Martini, she released her first solo album "Love Handle" and was chosen to sing the theme song to the TV show "Clueless." With Pink Martini, China has appeared on several late night shows, including "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." After a leave of absence to undergo surgery on her vocal chords, she has found a renewed thrill in being on stage every chance she gets.

PROGRAM

The Utah Symphony presents
Pink Martini
Abravanel Hall, 123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
March 21 | 7:30 PM

Lawrence Loh, conductor
Thomas M. Lauderdale, piano
China Forbes, vocals
Gavin Bondy, trumpet
Achilles Liarmakopoulos, Trombone
Nicholas Corsa, violin
Phil Baker, upright bass
Fan Faehnle, guitar
Timothy Nishimoto, vocals and percussion
Brian Davis, congas and percussion
Miguel Bernal, congas and percussion
Reinhardt Melz, drums and percussion

Selections to be announced from the stage

SPONSORS:
Concert Sponsors: George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation
Conductor Sponsor: Dominion Questar Corporation
Guest Artist Sponsor-Pink Martini: Zions Bank
Symphony Season Sponsor: George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation

Tickets, priced from $40-$105, are available for purchase through www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683. Tickets increase $5 on the day of the performance.

About the Utah Symphony
Founded in 1940, the Utah Symphony is dedicated to offering orchestral performances that span the traditions of the past and challenge possibilities for our present and future audiences. Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the orchestra's parent organization, reaches 450,000 residents in Utah and the Intermountain region, with educational outreach programs serving more than 155,000 students annually. The orchestra presents more than 70 performances each season in Abravanel Hall, participates in the Utah Opera's four annual productions at the Capitol Theatre, in addition to numerous community concerts throughout Utah and the annual outdoor summer series - the Deer Valley® Music Festival -in Park City, Utah. With its many subscription, education, and outreach concerts and tours the Utah Symphony is one of the most engaged full-time orchestras in the nation. For more information visit www.utahsymphony.org.

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